Great PG Play Headlines NBA Playoffs

With both conferences in their semifinal rounds, some of the great performances of this postseason have come from point guards. Among the 7 teams remaining, each team has gotten stellar play from their point guards to make it this far. Let's take a look at each point guard's performance during the playoffs.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
24.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.9 APG
Westbrook has been criticized often for taking too many shots for the Thunder, and he arguably cost the Thunder Game 3 against the Grizzlies with his poor decision making. His field goal percentage has dropped 3% in the playoffs. However, Westbrook has still been able to score and manage the Thunder to the second round of the playoffs.

Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
15.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.2 APG
While Conley has not accumulated the stellar numbers Westbrook has, he has surprised many with his strong play so far this postseason. In the first round, Conley outplayed stellar PG Tony Parker of the Spurs. His performance so far in the semifinals against Westbrook and the Thunder has been even more promising to Grizzlies fans. So far in the series, he's been able to score more, averaging 19.0 PPG in the second round of the playoffs. For the Grizzlies to continue their stunning run, Conley will have to continue to play well.

Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
10.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.2 APG
While Kidd has not scored as much as the other two, he's continued to showcase his superior passing abilities. His 7.2 APG have been one of the reasons the Mavericks have played so well in the playoffs. The Mavericks' most valuable weapon has been the 3-point shot, and Kidd has certainly provided some of that. He's shooting about 37% from long range, and if he continues to play well, expect the Mavs to contend for a championship this year.

Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks
11.4 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 2.8 APG
Teague was barely a factor at all in the Hawks' first round series against the Magic, averaging only 2.5 minutes per game. After Kirk Hinrich went down, Teague stepped into a heavy role in the Hawks offense. In the second round matchup against the Bulls, Teague is averaging 42 minutes per game, 17.3 points per game, and 3.7 assists per game. Teague's second round performance has been solid so far, and he will need to lead the Hawks well to defeat Derrick Rose and the Bulls.

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
28.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 7.3 APG
The regular season MVP has been terrific so far in the postseason, shredding defenses to average just about 29 points per game. Rose's performance has been even further elevated in this second round series against the Hawks, averaging 31 points per game, and 9 assists per game. Rose has continued his rise to becoming one of the top players in the NBA, and has definitely made a great case for being the best point guard in the league.

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
15.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 11.1 APG
Rondo tore through the Knicks' subpar defense in the first round, but has met some much tougher defense against the Heat. His production has dropped 8.7 points per game and 2 assists per game. Rondo's gutsy return from a dislocated elbow in Game 3 Saturday was heroic, but many wonder if he will be healthy for Game 4. Rondo is listed as a game-time decision, and the Celtics will surely need their point guard to come back in this series against Miami.

Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat
7.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.3 APG
Unlike many of the other point guards listed, Chalmers' job does not involve being a huge offensive presence. The Heat are led by LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, and Chalmers' job appears to be to make 3's when needed. Chalmers is hitting 3's at a 36.1% rate, and he is certainly capable of hitting clutch three's in important games. Chalmers doesn't have as much of a role in his team's offense, but the Heat have proven to the doubters that they have the ability to win in the postseason.

Here are my rankings of the remaining point guards so far in the postseason:
1) Derrick Rose
2) Rajon Rondo
3) Mike Conley
4) Russell Westbrook
5) Jason Kidd
6) Jeff Teague
7) Mario Chalmers

How Do the Top 6 NBA Teams in Record Fare Against Each Other?

Coming through February, most of the top NBA teams have played each other at some point this season. In the past few weeks we've seen some highly contentious duels between some of the premier teams in the league. Let's take a look at each team's record against the other top 5 teams in the NBA. The teams we will rank are the Spurs, Celtics, Heat, Mavericks, Bulls, and Lakers.

1. Boston Celtics (7-4, .636 Win %)
The Celtics hold the highest winning percentage against the top teams in the NBA. The Celtics have 3 wins against the Miami Heat, and hold a losing record against only the Mavericks, who they are 0-2 against. The Celtics are 5 GB of the Spurs for best record in the NBA, and one thing to watch after the All-Star break is how the Celtics' aging roster holds up down the stretch.

2. San Antonio Spurs (5-3, .625)
At the All-Star break, the Spurs are still red-hot at the All-Star break, and have only lost 10 games in the season, 3 of them against top teams. Their losses have come to Boston, Dallas, and most recently a tough loss against Chicago in which Derrick Rose scored 42 points. DeJuan Blair has asserted himself as a solid player for San Antonio, and Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan are all playing well. The Spurs also have an aging roster, so watch how their team finishes out the season.

T-3. Chicago Bulls (6-4, .600)
The Bulls come in tied for 3rd in the rankings with a 6-4 record. The Bulls have .500 or above records against each team except for the Celtics, who they have a 1-2 record against. The Bulls have an interesting roster, led by Derrick Rose, who is considered by many to be a serious MVP candidate. Rose could certainly use some help, but he's demonstrated this season that he's more than capable of putting this team on his back.

T-3. Dallas Mavericks (6-4, .600)
Dallas' roster that includes Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, and Tyson Chandler, all players that have shown they have the ability to help a team to get to the playoffs. The Mavs have a 5-0 record against the Lakers, Celtics, and Heat, the 3 preseason favorites for the title. Dallas has always struggled to cap off their seasons on high notes, and perhaps this year they can finally close out a championship.

5. Los Angeles Lakers (2-6, .250)
The Lakers and the Heat, regarded as the favorites to compete in the NBA Finals in June, but these two teams have both struggled against the top teams in the NBA, who they will more than likely have to defeat in order to get to the Finals. The Lakers' 2 wins have come against the Celtics and Bulls, two quality teams, but they have struggled overall this season against good teams. More troubling are their losses to lower tier teams such as Milwaukee and Charlotte. The defending champs still have a strong team, but they're going to have to play a lot better to win it all again.

6. Miami Heat (1-6, .167)
The Heat, who came together this offseason to win a title, can't seem to beat the best teams the league has to offer. The Heat gained a strong win over the Lakers on Christmas day, but they've fallen in all 3 matchups against Boston, and lost both games to Dallas. The Heat are yet to play the Spurs this season, and have an 0-1 record against Chicago. The Heat have been shaky all season, and like the Lakers, they definitely have the talent to win it all, they just need to bring it all together to win.

Previewing the NBA's Christmas Day Games

Tomorrow on Christmas Day, all 5 NBA games will be nationally televised. Each features a solid matchup. Let's look at each of tomorrow's matchups.

Chicago Bulls (18-9) at New York Knicks (17-12), 12 PM EST, ESPN
The Bulls have won 9 of their last 10 games, and come into Madison Square Garden against the Knicks who are going through a rough patch in the season here. Despite losing Joakim Noah to thumb surgery, the Bulls got star post player F Carlos Boozer, who is averaging 21.2 points and 9.7 rebounds in his last 10 games. New York attempts the most 3-pointers in the league, and Amare Stoudemire had 9 straight games with at least 30 points earlier in the month. Both teams have played well recently, but I think if the Knicks shooters show up, they might be able to win this game.
Pick: New York Knicks

Boston Celtics (23-4) at Orlando Magic (17-12), 2:30 PM EST, ABC
The Celtics have won 14 straight games, and are red-hot. The Magic have built up an even stronger team through trades this week, acquiring Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, and Earl Clark, trading away Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, and Marcin Gortat. The amazing thing about the Celtics' win streak is the fact that they've suffered some important injuries during the streak. Guards Rajon Rondo and Delonte West, and C Shaquille and F Jermaine O'Neal have both missed time, and starting C Kendrick Perkins still hasn't played all year. The Magic are still getting together as a team, and even without Rajon Rondo, I think the Celtics extend their winning streak.
Pick: Boston Celtics

Miami Heat (22-9) at Los Angeles Lakers (21-8), 5 PM EST, ABC
The marquee matchup of the day pits the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers against LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat. The Heat have struggled against top teams this year, losing twice to the Celtics and twice to the Mavericks already this year. The Lakers are coming off one of their worst losses of the season, losing by 19 at home to a Bucks team without Brandon Jennings. Dwayne Wade is questionable for the game. Both teams are extremely motivated to win this game, but I think the Lakers will come out on top.
Pick: Los Angeles Lakers

Denver Nuggets (16-11) at Oklahoma City Thunder (20-10), 8 PM EST, ESPN
The Thunder are coming off a loss on Wednesday against the Knicks, and take on the Nuggets on Christmas day. The Nuggets are going to short-handed on Christmas, as Carmelo Anthony will be missing the game due to the death of his sister. The Thunder have played well at home this year, and I think that without Anthony, the Nuggets will fall to the Thunder.
Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder

Portland Trailblazers (15-14) at Golden State Warriors (10-18), 10:30 EST, ESPN
The final matchup of the day may not have the marquee records and teams, but both teams have top players and this should be a great matchup. The Blazers are searching for their 4th consecutive win. LaMarcus Aldridge is leading the Blazers in Brandon Roy's absence, averaging 29.3 PPG over this week. Monta Ellis of the Warriors, always an explosive scorer, is pushing it even further this week, averaging 35 PPG this week. Both players are on a tear, but I see the Warriors winning this game due to injuries to key players for the Blazers.
Pick: Golden State Warriors

Merry Christmas and enjoy the games!

College Basketball Previews: Previewing the Pac 10

College basketball season has just started to get under way, so it's time to preview the major conferences. First up is the Pac 10.

Conference Review
In 2009, the Pac 10 had a very down year. Traditional powers such as Arizona and UCLA struggles mightily, and the conference had just 1 NCAA Tournament bid (Washington). This year, however, the conference looks to be on the rise again.

Predictions

1. Washington (Last Year: 26-10, 11-7)
Washington is the clear favorite in the conference this year. They lost top scorer Quincy Pondexter to the draft, but return Isaiah Thomas and Matthew Bryan-Amaning. Freshman Terrence Ross should provide a solid scoring option on the wing. Washington was a surprise Sweet 16 team last year, and could make it there again this year.

2. UCLA (14-18, 8-10)
Yes, UCLA was much worse than they usually are last year. However, this year, the team looks to have a solid chance at getting back into the NCAA tournament. G Malcolm Lee showcased his potential last year for the Bruins, F Tyler Honeycutt has been predicted by many to be a lottery pick and 1st Team All-Pac 10 member, and F Reeves Nelson is returning from a season in which he earned a starting job. Freshman C Josh Smith should give the Bruins a low post scorer that they sorely missed last season. The big question for the Bruins will be at PG. Junior Jerime Anderson has not lived up to the expectations, and after him they senior Mustafa Abdul-Hamid and JUCO transfer Lazeric Jones. If UCLA can solve the PG problems, watch out.

3. Arizona (16-15, 10-8)
Despite missing Nic Wise from last year's 4th place finishing team, Arizona has a very solid team that should compete in the Pac 10 this season. Sophomore Derrick Williams is coming off a freshman season in which he averaged 15.7 PPG and 7.1 RPG. Kyle Fogg also returns after scoring 11.1 PPG last year. Overall, Arizona has a pretty good team, and could be the 3rd Pac 10 team in the Big Dance.

4. USC (16-14, 8-10)
USC had a rough season last year after announcing self-imposed sanctions in the middle of the season, banning the team from postseason play. This year, the ban has been lifted, and the team is looking to get into the tournament. USC returns F Nikola Vucecic (predicted by many as a 1st Team All-Pac 10) and Alex Stephenson, who both should provide good scoring for USC. Overall, this is a team that might be on the bubble come March.

5. Arizona State (22-11, 12-6)
Arizona State finished 2nd in the conference last year, but lost their best big man Eric Boateng. Arizona State doesn't seem to have any replacements for Boateng, and their low post and rebounding play should suffer. Arizona State is an average team, and I don't think they will make the tournament this year.

6. Washington State (16-15, 6-12)
Washington State finished last in the conference last year, but returns three stellar scorers. Klay Thompson led the league in scoring last year, and they also return Reggie Moore and DeAngelo Castro. The Cougars probably won't do much in the national spotlight, but should improve this season.

7. California (24-11, 13-5)
Cal was one of the best teams in the conference last year, and won the regular season championship, but lost 4 of their top players. Jerome Randle, Patrick Christopher, Jamal Boykin, and Theo Robertson all graduated and have left Cal, and now this team is left with a team that probably won't compete this year.

8. Oregon State (14-18, 8-10)
Oregon State made some strides last year (they were winless in conference the year before) under Coach Craig Robinson, and should continue to get better this year, but won't be one of the top teams in the conference.

9. Stanford (14-18, 7-11)
Stanford will have one of the youngest teams in the Pac 10 this year, with 9 freshman on their roster, and 0 seniors. Stanford doesn't seem to have the talent to compete with the rest of the Pac 10.

10. Oregon (16-16, 7-11)
Oregon's basketball team is not doing as well as their football team is this season. This team lost multiple players from last year, and are also in the middle of an NCAA investigation over improper benefits received by former players. In general, the Ducks basketball program is a mess.

The Pac 10 should improve from last season, but still is one of the worse Big Six conferences.

Halladay Throws a No-Hitter in the NLDS; Is He the NL Cy Young Winner?

In a great pitching performance, off-season acquisition Roy Halladay led the Phillies to a 4-0 victory over the Reds in game 1 of the NLDS with a no-hitter. Halladay threw 5 perfect innings, then gave up a walk to Jay Bruce, but still finished with a no-hitter. Halladay was 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA this year for the Phillies. Is Roy Halladay the favorite for the NL Cy Young?

Halladay had a very strong season, but there are a couple of pitchers who are also legitimate candidates for the award. Let's take a look at the each pitchers case for the award.

Roy Halladay, Phillies
Halladay came to the Phillies in an off-season trade with the Blue Jays and was a huge success for the Phillies. Halladay was 21-10 this season with a 2.44 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He threw a perfect game earlier in the year against the Marlins on May 29, and threw a no-hitter in his first playoff appearance against the Reds today.

Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
Wainwright is a little bit of a long shot due to his late season arm injury, he did have a solid year that including a 20-11 record. Wainwright had an ERA of 2.42 and a WHIP of 1.05. Wainwright's batting average against is lower than Halladay's at .224 (Halladay's is .245). Wainwright's Cardinals did not make the playoffs, which may lower his chances of winning, but Wainwright definitely had a solid season.

Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies
Ubaldo Jimenez started off the season booming, throwing a no-hitter against the Braves on April 17. At the All-Star break, Ubaldo was 15-1 with a 2.20 ERA, and looked like the sure Cy Young winner. However, Jimenez really started to fall off a little bit in June, with 4.41 ERA, and then a 6.04 ERA in July. His final post All-Star game stats are a 4-7 record with a 3.80 ERA, which is nowhere near the dominance of his start to the season. He finished the year with a 19-8 record and a 2.88 ERA. His WHIP finished at 1.15, and a BAA of .209.

Overall, while all three of these pitchers had great seasons, I think the final rankings are:
1. Roy Halladay
2. Ubaldo Jimenez
3. Adam Wainwright

It's been a great first day in the playoffs so far, with a 5-1 win by the Rangers over the Rays, and the 4-0 no-hitter victory for the Phillies over the Reds. The Yankees-Twins game starts in about 10 minutes on TBS.

MLB Playoffs: Twins Are the First to Clinch

As we come down the stretch of the Major League Baseball season, the pennant races are really beginning to heat up. The first team to clinch a position in this year's postseason is the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins. Let's take a look at the Twins season, and how they may fair in the postseason.

Hitting
The hitting for the Twins has been pretty good, despite the loss of Justin Morneau. Denard Span leads the team with 24 stolen bases. Orlando Hudson has been decent in the 2-spot, hitting .271. Joe Mauer has hit well despite a power outage (just 9 HRs this year), but he has a .331 batting average. Jason Kubel has hit out the cleanup spot much of the year, hitting 19 HRs this year. Michael Cuddyer has 14 HR and 78 RBI for Minnesota, and Jim Thome has been spectacular hitting 25 HR to lead Minnesota. Delmon Young has had a breakout year, with 18 HR and 105 RBI. Danny Valencia has been playing 3rd Base for the Twins, hitting .328 in 76 games. J.J. Hardy has been decent at SS for the Twins, hitting .274 in 97 games. While Justin Morneau may not return for post season play, IF Nick Punto (.249 in 84 games), IF Alexi Casilla (.277 in 63 games) and OF Jason Repko (3 HR in 50 games) round out the bench for Minnesota.

Starting Pitching
The ace of this Minnesota pitching staff has clearly been 26-year-old Francisco Liriano. Liriano has a 14-9 record, a 3.48 ERA, and a 1.26 WHIP. Carl Pavano has won 17 games this year, and has thrown 2 shutouts this year. He has a 1.16 WHIP and has thrown the most inning of anyone on the staff this year at 210 innings. Scott Baker has been injured been hurt, and has a record of 12-9 with an WHIP of 1.33. Kevin Slowey has an impressive 1.27, with a record of 13-6. Nick Blackburn has started 24 games, and thrown 149.2 inning. He has been one of the weaker pitchers for the Twins, with an ERA 5.23.

Bullpen
The bullpen was hurt at the beginning of the year with the loss of all-star closer Joe Nathan, but the bullpen has been good enough for Minnesota this year. Brian Duensing has been great for them, starting 11 games, and coming in for relief in 40 games. He has a WHIP of 1.13 and a 2.19 ERA. Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain have combined for 131 innings. Jose Mijares has also contributed 29 innings. The closer this year is Jon Rauch has 21 saves, which isn't exactly spectacular, but he has been serviceable.

Overall, the Twins have a decent team, but I don't think they are favored over the Yankees or Rays, whom they will probably face in the playoffs.

Predicting the American League Playoff Race

After finishing up the National League earlier in the week, now it's time to look at the American League.

AL West: Texas Rangers
I really can't see any way the Rangers do not win the division in 2010. The A's are a distant 8 games back in second place, and the Angels even further at 10.5 games back. Josh Hamilton has returned to his MVP-type hitting, leading the team with a .362 batting average and 31 HR. The RBI leader has been free agent pickup Vladimir Guerrero, who came over from the Angels in the offseason. Guerrero has shown that he still can hit, and he has provided the Rangers with another threat alongside Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, and Michael Young. The pitching is a little less stable, with mid-season acquisition Cliff Lee struggling and possibly missing a start with back injuries. Lee has been listed as questionable for a start Tuesday, and was unable to throw a bullpen session Saturday. CJ Wilson and Colby Lewis lead the team in the major pitching categories, and Rich Harden is off the DL and has looked pretty good so far. Neftali Feliz is looking like a definite AL Rookie of the Year candidate with his 34 saves in 37 opportunities. Overall, while the Rangers may have some questions regarding the rotation, barring a complete collapse, I think the Rangers will cruise into their first postseason since 1999.

AL Central: Minnesota Twins
The Twins have had a stellar year in the AL Central, and with a 79-57 record, they are 3.5 games up on the second place Chicago White Sox. Joe Mauer has carried the offense, and Delmon Young is having a breakout season knocking in 93 RBI. Justin Morneau was placed on the 60-Day DL with a concussion, but with Jason Kubel and Jim Thome, they are making up for the loss of Morneau's power. Carl Pavano has been the surprise leader in wins for Minnesota, accumulated 15 so far this season. Francisco Liriano is having an impressive season with a 3.27 ERA and 178 strikeouts. He has thrown a career high 165.1 innings so far (his most prior to this year was 136.2). They have a pretty decent schedule going into September, playing Kansas City twice, Cleveland twice, Oakland once, Toronto once, Detroit once, and a big series against the White Sox starting September 14. The Twins are a very good team, and are definitely in the hunt for another postseason birth.

AL East New York Yankees
The Yankees have been battling it out with the Rays for most of the year, and have barely pulled away now with a 2.5 game lead over Tampa. Robinson Cano is having a brilliant season, with a .318 batting average, 26 HR and 91 RBI. Mark Teixeira has 30 HR and 99 RBI, and the team has been going without Alex Rodriguez, who was placed on the 15-day DL with a calf injury. He may be activated Sunday, the first day of his eligibility. C.C. Sabathia has been great for the Yankees, with 19 wins, a 3.02 ERA, and 165 strikeouts. Phil Hughes was an All-Star this year, but has struggled in the second half. The Yankees have a pretty tough schedule in September, playing Baltimore twice, Texas once, Tampa Bay twice (one is a 4 game series), Boston once, and Toronto once. The Texas and Tampa series are very important, and Boston is dangerous, but they are pretty much out of both the wild card and division races.

AL Wild Card: Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays definitely have a shot at winning the division, but if they lose to the Yankees in that race, I don't see them failing to win the wild card. Carl Crawford is hitting .298, and Evan Longoria has 19 HR and 90 RBI. David Price is having a remarkable season, with 16 wins, a 2.92 ERA, and 161 strikeouts. Matt Garza has been good in the rotation, while Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann have had their moments in the rotation. Joaquin Benoit and Rafael Soriano have helped out in the bullpen for Tampa. Soriano has 41 saves to only 2 blown saves. The Rays definitely have the talent to make the playoffs, it seems like it's more a question of whether they win the division or the wild card.